JPS62135386A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use an interface-controlling timer in common for a plurality of processings, by providing a free-run counter the count of which is updated at a predetermined time interval. CONSTITUTION:Monitoring processings such as control of turning-ON of a display device and control of operation of a buzzer are performed by counting time by a free-run counter provided as a counting means which updates the count at a predetermined time interval by using predetermined addresses in an internal RAM in a microcomputer. For each processing, the count at the start of the counting is used as a reference, each required period of time is added thereto, and the count on the free-run counter after the lapse of the period of time is obtained. Therefore, the system can be used for any processing in which an accuracy on the order of milliseconds is required, and since a single free-fun counter can be used simultaneously for a plurality of processings, the cost is lowered.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Selected Kuji The present invention relates to a printing device.

In general, type printers, dot impact printers,
In various printers such as thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, inkjet printers, and printing devices such as electronic typewriters, blinking LEDs indicate various errors such as ribbon end and the status of various switches such as the pause switch on the operation panel. Control, buzzer ringing control, monitoring of the status of various switches such as switches or detection switches provided on the operation panel or rear panel, monitoring of data reception from the host side, etc., and vi visual processing.

Therefore, in conventional printing apparatuses, a dedicated timer for interface control is used to perform interface control such as various time-based controls and monitoring.

However, when each individual control has a dedicated timer for interface control, the configuration becomes complicated. When one timer is used to control the number of U, there is an inconvenience that while the timer is being used for one control, it becomes unusable due to multiple control.

Purpose This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to achieve common use of timers.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a counting means for updating a count value at predetermined fixed time intervals.

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a type wheel type printer embodying the present invention.

The outer casing of this printer consists of a lower case 1 and an upper case 2 that house a mechanical section and a control section, and a cover 3 that can be opened and closed for replacing type wheels, ribbon cassettes, etc. is equipped with character scale 4.

Further, on the front panel 5 attached to the front of the upper case 2, there is a pause indicator 6 consisting of a PAUSE switch 6 and an LED that displays the status of the PAUSE switch 6. L
A paper end indicator 8 consisting of an ED, a ribbon end indicator S, and a power indicator 10 are attached.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a schematic plan view and a front view showing an example of the mechanism of this printer.

In this mechanical section, a platen 22 for wrapping and feeding paper to be printed is rotatably mounted between frames 21 and 21 fixed to both ends of a subframe (not shown).

This platen 22 is moved by a motor gear 24. Idle gear 25. It is driven via an idle gear 26 and a platen gear 27 that move together with this idle gear 25, and automatically feeds the paper.

Further, manual operation knobs 28.28 are fixed to both ends of the platen 22, and by turning the knobs 28.28, paper can be manually loaded or removed.

Further, in front of this platen 22, a pail roller 30 is provided.
2. The paper pail 31 with the ! 13 and is biased toward the platen 22 by a pail drive mechanism (not shown) so as to be swingable.

On the other hand, a carriage 37 is mounted on a rod 35 and a rod 36 fixed between the frames 21 and 21 so as to be movable parallel to the platen 22 in its axial direction.

This carriage 37 includes a selection motor 3S consisting of a stepping motor equipped with a type wheel 38, a printing hammer 41 that hits the type on the type wheel 38, and a ribbon cassette equipped with a ribbon (multi-strike ribbon, one-time ribbon, etc.) 42. (Ribbon cartridge) 43.

A ribbon feed mechanism etc. for feeding the ribbon 42 is installed.

A mounting plate 45 is fixed to a subframe (not shown).
A space motor 46 consisting of a stepping motor is attached to the frame 21.
Mounting plates 50 and 51 fixed to the shaft are rotatably supported.

A space wire 52 is stretched between these space pulleys 4S and pulleys 50 and 51, and this space wire 5
2 is fixed to the front bottom surface of the carriage 37, and the carriage 37 is moved parallel to the platen 22 by a space motor 46.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a control section of this printer.

The main controller 90 includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer") 91, a ROM 92, and a RAM.
9t, a one-chip timer unit 94 containing three built-in timers which are programmable timers whose timer times can be independently set by the microcomputer S1, a T/○95 for parallel interface, I1096-99, etc.

The microcomputer S1 has a built-in CPU, ROM, RAM, I/O, etc., and is a circuit that also serves as a counting means for controlling the entire printer.

This microcontroller S1 has three built-in 8-bit timers, two of which are used as dedicated timers for space control and selection control, and the remaining timer generates an interrupt every 1 ms. Used as a generated Ims timer.

The ROM 92 stores, for example, a program area that stores a control program related to printing control of this printer, a printing pressure table that converts a character code into a type position (wheel address), a proportional space amount table that converts into a proportional space amount, and other tables. It constitutes a conversion table area where it is stored and other areas where other fixed information 1 such as a speed table is stored.

RAM 93 is a host (for example, a word processor,
It consists of a receive buffer that temporarily stores received data from an office computer, personal computer, etc.), a user area for downloading various user data from the host side, and a working area (including a data area) for program execution. do.

The three timers of the timer unit S4 are used as a hammer main excitation timer, a hammer re-excitation timer, and a baud rate generator timer, respectively.

The microcomputer S1 then transfers character code and space (sp) data from the host side to its own serial interface terminal or l1095.

Line feed (LF) data, carriage return (
It takes in various data such as CR) data and performs processing based on the received data.

That is, the microcomputer S1 outputs a line feed drive pulse to the line feed driver 101 to drive and control the line feed motor 23, rotates the platen 22, and feeds a predetermined amount of paper.

The microcomputer S1 also outputs a space drive pulse to the space driver 102 to drive the space motor 46.
The carriage 37 is moved by a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction and positioned at the printing position.

Furthermore, this microcomputer S1 has a selection driver 1.
Output the selection drive pulse to 03 to drive the selection motor 39\1. lJ control, type wheel 3
8 is rotated to position the desired type at the impact position by the printing hammer 41.

Furthermore, this microcomputer 91 also controls the hammer driver 10.
4 outputs a hammer drive pulse to drive the hammer magnet 41A that constitutes the printing hammer 41.
1B to strike the type on the type wheel 38.

Further, this microcomputer 91 has a ribbon feed driver 1.
05, a ribbon feed drive pulse is output to drive and control the ribbon feed motor 10S, which is a stepping motor, to feed the ribbon 42 by a predetermined amount.

Furthermore, this microcomputer 91 connects the ribbon end sensor 107. Cover open switch 10 days, wheel home sensor 10 days.

Detection signals from various sensors such as a paper end sensor and a carriage home sensor (not shown) are input.

Furthermore, the microcomputer S1 receives operation signals from the pause switch 6 and line feed switch 7 attached to the front panel 5 via the l1099, and also receives operation signals from the pause indicator 6A, paper end indicator 7. Controls the lighting of the ribbon end indicator 8.

In addition, this microcomputer S1 has a rear panel 11 (not shown).
Baud rate and protocol attached to 0.

Retrieve each specified information from the DIP switch to set the code system, etc.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 5 and subsequent figures.

In this printer, a counter I means (hereinafter referred to as a "free run counter") that updates a count value at regular intervals using a predetermined address in the internal RAM of the microcomputer 91 is configured by firmware.

That is, one of the built-in timers of the microcomputer 91 is used to generate an interrupt every 1n+s.

During this interrupt processing, the 1-value of the free run counter allocated to the internal RAM is updated.

This 1ms interrupt processing will be explained with reference to FIG.

When the microcomputer 91 generates an interrupt request every 1 ms,
It is determined whether ribbon feed (RF) processing is necessary by checking whether the ribbon feed execution flag is set.

At this time, if RF processing is required, perform the RF processing, or if RF processing is not required, continue as is, then check whether the line feed execution flag is set and perform line feed (L F) processing. Determine whether or not it is necessary.

At this time, if LF processing is necessary, perform the LF processing, or if LP processing is not necessary, proceed to the primary RA.
After incrementing (+1) the content of the predetermined address of M, that is, the count value of the free run counter FRC, the process returns.

Therefore, the count value of the free run counter FRC is updated every 111143 (+1 ) to be done.

Therefore, 8-bit RAM 9 is used as a free run counter.
When assigning two of B's predetermined addresses,
-Mari free run counter 2 bytes (16 bits)
In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, each bit 1- from the 1st bin 1 to the 16th bit has a different numerical weight (1st bit 1-=1).

2nd bit = 2...16th bit = 32768
), so in the case of a 2-byte free run counter FRC, the number ranges from 0 to 65535 (=1+2...+327
It is possible to count up to 68).

Therefore, as mentioned above, the free run counter FRC is incremented by h(+1
), as shown in Figure 7 (a), the count value when 10 seconds have elapsed from the time when the free run counter FRC's run I- (direction is "0" (all pids 0'') is shown in the figure (a). As shown in b), rloooOJ becomes rloooOJ, and further 5
The count value after 5.535 seconds has passed is r65535J (all pits 1'') as shown in FIG.

Then, when another 1 ms has passed, the count value of the free run counter FRC becomes "0" as shown in the same figure (d).
, and the count value is again incremented (+1) as time passes.

In this way, in the case of a 2-byte free run counter FRC, the count value is changed from rOJ to r65535J every Ims.
Since the increment (+1) is repeated until 65.5
This will allow you to measure time up to 35 seconds.

Next, various controls performed using this free run counter will be explained.

In this printer, for example, a pause lamp 6A, a paper end indicator 8. When the ribbon end display 8F) 9 is turned on, it is controlled to blink at predetermined time intervals.

In addition, a pause switch 6 attached to the front panel 5,
Monitoring of line feed switch 7 and rear panel 110
Baud rate switch attached to.

Protocol switch, space pitch switch.

Auto line switch, line pitch switch.

The status of the form length switch, wheel switch, etc. is monitored at predetermined time intervals. At this time, in order to accurately determine the operating state of the switch, the determination is made after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the switch was turned on.

Furthermore, if a space code or line feed code is continuously transferred to the 5 reception buffer, the space code or line feed operation will be performed when any other code is input. When no other code is input after the feed code is transferred continuously,
It monitors whether or not data is received for a predetermined period of time, and if no data is received after a predetermined period of time, a space operation or a line feed operation is performed (this process is referred to as "optimizer processing").

Furthermore, when determining the state of the pail open switch, which consists of a microswitch (not shown) that detects the opening and closing of the paper pail, wait until the detection signal becomes stable to avoid chattering of the detection signal when the switch is on or off. Then judge.

In addition, other time-based controls include 1. For example, controlling the sound of a buzzer for operator calls or errors, and driving the paper feed motor or solenoid of the paper feed device when a paper feed device (ASF, form tractor, etc.) is installed. There is control.

Here, a case in which printer monitoring processing is performed using a free run counter will be described with reference to FIG.

In this printer monitoring process, first the ribbon end sensor 1
07 to determine whether it is the ribbon end, and if it is the ribbon end, check whether the blinking start flag is OFF or not, and blinking has not started (blinking start flag = OFF).
), the count value of the free run counter FRC is set to the end counter A1 (As←FRC) and the blinking start flag is turned on.

Next, it is determined whether the ribbon end indicator 9 is currently lit by checking whether the 1 lighting flag is ON or not.

When the ribbon end indicator date is not lit (lighting flag = OFF), the count values of the end counter A and the free run counter FRC match (A1
=FRC).

At this time, if A, = FRC, the light-off state is 1501
13 has not yet elapsed, the paper end indicator S continues to be turned off.

Moreover, if A,=FRC, the free run counter FR
The value obtained by adding 200 (ms) to the count value of C is set in the end counter A1 (As←FRC+200).

After that, end counter A! is larger than 65535, which is the maximum value that the free run counter FRC can count (A□>65535), and determines whether A+>[3
If it is 5535, set the value obtained by subtracting 65535 from the end counter A1 to the end counter A1 (A1-At
65535) If -As > 65535, leave as is.

Then, after outputting a lighting signal to the ribbon end indicator S, the 1 lighting flag is turned ON.

In contrast, the ribbon end indicator S is lit (
When lighting flag = ON), free run counter FRC
The count value of matches the end counter A1 (At =
FRC).

At this time, if A1 = FRC, it will take 200 seconds from the start of lighting.
Since m5 has not yet elapsed, the paper end indicator 9 continues to be lit.

Moreover, if A,=FRC, the free run counter FR
The value obtained by adding 150 (ms) to the count value of C is set in the end counter A (At←FRC+150).

After that, it is determined whether the content of the end counter A1 is larger than 65535, which is the maximum value that the free run counter FRC can count (At>65535), and A+>6
If it is 5535, set the value obtained by subtracting 65535 from the end counter A1 to the end counter A1 (A1-At-
65535) and leave it as is unless A+>65535.

After the output of the lighting signal to the paper end indicator 9 is stopped and the light is turned off, the 1 lighting flag is turned OFF.

In this way, when a ribbon end occurs, the ribbon end indicator S is lit for 200m5.

150m5 lights off and flashing.

After this ribbon end monitoring process is completed, the paper end sensor is checked to determine whether or not the paper is at the end. do.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the pause switch 6 is ON or not, and if the pause switch 6 is ON, it is checked whether the pause flag is ON or not to determine whether the pause switch 6 has already been pressed.

At this time, if the pause flag is not ON, a value obtained by adding 20 (ms) to the count value of the free run counter FRC is set in the end counter A2 (A2←FRC+20).

After that, it is determined whether the content of the end counter A2 is larger than 65535, which is the maximum value that the free run counter FRC can count (A2 > 65535), and A2 > 6
If it is 5535, set the value obtained by subtracting 65535 from the end counter A2 to the end counter A2 (A 2 ← A2
65535).

If A2>65535, leave it as is and turn on the Bose flag.

Also, if the pause flag is not ON, the end counter A
2 and the count value of the free run counter FRC match (A2 = FRC).

When A2=FRC, pause switch 6
Since 20 rns have not passed since the button was pressed, the operation of the pause switch 6 is not yet valid.

Then, if A2=FRC, 20IIls have passed since the pause switch 6 was pressed, so the pause switch 6
With the operation enabled, determine whether the current state is in a pause state, if the current state is in a pose state, set it to a not-pause state, and if the current state is not in a pose state, set it to a pause state, and then set the pose flag. Turn off.

The reason for making the operation valid only when the pause switch 6 is inserted 20 m5 in this way is to ensure accuracy.

Note that such switch monitoring processing can be performed not only for switches attached to the front panel or rear panel, but also for monitoring the status of other detection switches such as the pail open switch as described above. Accordingly, chattering of the detection signal when the switch is turned on or off can be avoided, and the detection result can be determined more accurately.

After the monitoring process for the pause switch 6 is completed, the LF switch process for monitoring the line feed switch 7 is performed in the same manner.

As can be seen from this printer monitoring process, in the process of measuring time using a free-run counter, the count value at the start of measurement is used as a reference for each process, and the required time is added up and calculated after the time elapses. Find the 1-value of the free run counter.

Therefore, it can be used for all kinds of processing that requires accuracy down to the millisecond level, and moreover, one free-run counter can be shared by a plurality of processing at the same time, and the cost is low.

In this way, since this printer is equipped with a counting means that updates the count value at predetermined fixed time intervals, one timer (time measuring means) can be shared by a plurality of processes.

In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the present invention is implemented in a 2-byte area and the measurement is performed up to a maximum of 65.535 seconds. However, by increasing the number of bytes of the free run counter, it is possible to measure an even longer time. It becomes possible.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the internal RA of the computer
Although an example using M is described, other rewritable storage devices can also be used.

Further, in the above embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a type wheel type printer has been described, but other examples include a dot impact printer.

The present invention can be similarly applied to various printers such as thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, inkjet printers, optical printers, and light emitting diode printers, and printing devices such as electronic typewriters.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the timer can be shared.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a printer embodying the present invention. Figures 2 and 3 are a schematic plan view and a front view of the mechanism, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the control unit, and Figure 5 is a diagram of the free run counter secured in the RAM in the main controller. An explanatory diagram for explanation. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing interrupt processing executed every millisecond by the microcomputer of the main controller, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the count value of the free run counter in FIG. 6 and the passage of time. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of printer monitoring processing similarly executed by the microcomputer. 5...Front panel SO...Main controller 91...Microcomputer 110...Rear panel Fig. 1 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A printing device characterized by comprising a counting means for updating a counter value at predetermined fixed time intervals. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, which performs at least one of the following: controlling lighting of a display, controlling sound of a buzzer, monitoring switches, and monitoring data reception based on the count value of the counting means.